Wednesday 8 June 2016

WE ARE NOT GIVING UP!! 



Last night, I had a message from someone directly involved in Home Fires. I'm not going to reveal names or exact details out of respect for that person.
However I have to share that I was told that despite huge efforts being made to save the show that sadly, they had come to the end of the line with it. They have been unable to have the show bought by another channel and ITV are not budging.

My first reaction to this was genuine sadness and a real feeling of deflation. I feel so strongly about this show, as I know many of you do, and I can't stand the thought that it's just been dumped on the cutting floor as if it didn't mean anything.

Yes I know it's only a tv show. In the grand scheme of things, it's not as important as many things that happen daily. Saying that, tv is a large part of many peoples lives. Lots of people spend the evening in front of the box with their family, loved ones and friends, all laughing together, crying together, being gripped by a drama or being entertained by a comedy.

The special thing about Home Fires is that is appealed to all age groups, male and female, rich and poor. The story of how the WI helped the war effort in the 1940's is an important one to tell. Women are not often celebrated and they certainly weren't back in those days.
Today, there are still examples of gender inequality in many areas of the entertainment industry, with female actors fighting to be paid the same as their male counterparts and the shameless media obsession with a woman's appearance, weight, sex life etc....
The thing that really stood out with Home Fires was the fact that it was a heavily female led cast. Actresses of various ages were all part of a wonderful ensemble cast yet the male roles weren't overshadowed by that.

There has been a change in the types of tv shows made and reality tv as well as talent style shows have become very popular. I won't deny that I am a fan of  some of these and I do watch a wide range of types of tv shows. Saying that, I do feel that well written, good quality drama should always be prioritised over cheap to make reality shows. Sadly it seems that ITV don't agree with this and continue to make pretty trashy shows like Love Island, whilst axing a hugely popular drama, leaving it on a cliffhanger.

This is why we are angry. This is why we have felt the need to start a campaign and this is why we will not give up!

I understand that our efforts may be futile. I know that some will think that we are wasting our time and need to accept what we've been told.
The thing is, it doesn't feel like we've done everything we could. It doesn't feel like we've been campaigning for long enough.
SO, alongside many other campaigners, who have now become friends, I am going to keep fighting to have our voices heard. We have been working on some great things, which we will share as soon as they are finished.

This is a plea really. If you really love the show then please will you continue to stand by us? Will you continue to get the word out there? Will you continue to show ITV your disgust  at the dreadful way they have treated the cast, crew and viewers? Will you continue to get those posters displayed to alert all the people who still have no idea it's been axed?
Will you continue to contact other channels and show them how big the support would be if they bought the show?
Would you continue to collect offline signatures so we can give a voice to all those who don't have internet access?

Of course I understand that some of you will feel that it's pretty pointless and you aren't willing to keep using your time on something that's unlikely to succeed. However if you feel that you want to continue to fight with us, then we hugely appreciate that.

WHY on earth won't another channel see what a gem this is? Why can they not see that a drama, that already had more of the series written, is worth so much to them? How can they not see that buying the show would give them millions of viewers as well as a free, well publicised campaign full of people who would shout from the rooftops about the show? The free PR they would get from us all would be nothing but a benefit to them. Why can they not see that a drama such as this is real quality? 

SO, if you are with me, thank you!! I'm NOT GIVING UP YET and i'm going to continue to show the producers, cast and crew just how much we care.
If you are with me, then THANK YOU xxxx

36 comments:

  1. Thanks Kerryn, I am just trying to digest the email prom the person you mention.
    You are a source of inspiration to us all and I for one will not be giving up.
    It may well be that we will not be successful, if that's the case, then at least we will have given it our best shot.
    We mustn't just be treated like this by uncaring monoliths. We must keep letting them know how we feel.I will continue doing whatever is needed, just let me know, mainly Kerryn look after your health. Love, Jim. xx.

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    1. Thank you so much Jim! We certainly won't be silenced yet as they need to know that they've treated not only the cast and crew, but viewers as well, with such disrespect.
      We are so grateful to you for all your help and of course we will shout whenever we need you.
      I promise i'm looking after myself and making sure I am havin regular rest breaks. Most of the time i'm either on the settee or in bed in pjs tweeting! lol

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  2. Yes Kerryn,definitely with you.quite teary reading this,and gutted. Kas S(Lincoln)

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    1. Thank you so much Kas! I'm feeling tearful about it too which just makes me more determined to carry on, as it does mean a lot to us all. xxx

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  3. So behind you, sick of ITV's attitude that we viewers count. It was a terrific show and this anniversary year of so many service men & women's sacrifices in Ww1 and last year's anniversary of end of WW2, interest in wartime experiences has never been higher. Children are doing it in humanities at school, veterans are paying homage to their comrades. Enough crap, give us quality for a change.

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  4. Pat Donoghue wrote the post unknown, sorry didn't realise options weren't set to show.

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    1. lol That's ok! Thank you for letting me know xx

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  5. Pat Donoghue wrote the post unknown, sorry didn't realise options weren't set to show.

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  6. So behind you, sick of ITV's attitude that we viewers count. It was a terrific show and this anniversary year of so many service men & women's sacrifices in Ww1 and last year's anniversary of end of WW2, interest in wartime experiences has never been higher. Children are doing it in humanities at school, veterans are paying homage to their comrades. Enough crap, give us quality for a change.

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    1. Exactly that!! It's such an important part of our history and the stories of how women and the WI helped this country to cope during the war need to be told. The younger generation need to learn about these things and tv shows can play a big part of that! xx

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  7. Well ,it was good job the WI didn't abandon their efforts after only one month wasn't it!
    I agree with you when you say that in the grand scheme of things a TV show isn't so important, however it's the underlying principle of the matter that makes me want to continue this fight to save the "Home Fires" story.
    Over the last few days I have been reading the Jambusters book and discovering all the amazing things the WI did during WW2 that I had absolutely no idea about.I'm sure most ordinary people on the street have no idea either and that is why this programme is essential to bring it to their attention.By the end of Series 2 we were only just getting started!
    I personally have a project in hand to help spread the word of the plight of Homes Fires and the campaign progress so far, which I hope you will all help promote when it is up and running.Who knows how it will all end? The essential thing to remember is that as a team we are all standing up and fighting for what we believe is right.
    Kerryn, you should be so proud of what you started and have achieved so far. If you feel it is the right thing to do and you are well enough to do it, then you carry on!I,for one, will be with you ,even though my ideas are a tad "whacky" at times.There will be those who fall by the wayside, for whatever reason is right for them, but don't let that sway you from what you feel is the correct way to go. Whatever happens,we will have a wonderful time working and sharing ideas together.

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    1. Thank you so much Geraldine. We are fully behind you and will support anything to do and release as we are so grateful that you want to help the campaign in that way.
      We are going to harness some WI spirit as it is far too soon to give up so easily.
      We certainly are building a fun, supportive community between us all!

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  8. Im not going to give up either.. love the show and cast and all my new friends I've made over the campaign.

    we stand united kerryn..

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    1. We certainly do!! We'll make a much louder noise if we all shout together! xx

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  9. Dear Kerryn, Like Jim and the others who have posted comments, I'm in awe of what you have achieved in such a short space of time and ABSOLUTELY I will back you all the way. As one lady wrote, the WI didn't give up after just a month. They spent six years slogging away to keep the countryside ticking and now they're behind this they will not be so easily put off either. My grandfather was a Far East POW, as you know. The FEPOW motto post war was 'To Keep Going the Spirit that Kept Us Going.' How about that for a campaign motto? With love, Julie

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    1. Thank you Julie!! That is a perfect campaign slogan!! Love it.
      We really appreciate all of your support xx

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  10. This is @Pat_Landgirl.

    I stand with you, and this WONDERFUL cast. I am not done fighting, not for them, not for us and not for the show. If no networks will take it, then I say we take the fight to them. Show them how fierce we are. We are not finished. Not by a longshot.

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  11. So sad to hear this initially but if you think it is worth is carrying on the campaign i am behind you 100%. I will continue to make picture banners and post on Twitter I will continue to fight for the show that truly deserves to be back on our screens along side everyone else that is going to continue the campaign

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    1. We feel it's too soon to just give up! We've only been going a month.
      We've got so much more noise to make and if it's only to annoy ITV then so be it!

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  12. Rosie-LeeVintage@VintageRosieLee ... Too right ... I totally agree x x I will carry on with you in whatever way I can!!

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  13. Rosie-LeeVintage@VintageRosieLee ... Too right ... I totally agree x x I will carry on with you in whatever way I can!!

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  14. Are the WI involved in the campaign in any way? surely they have great numbers and influence and could help? I will back you and hope we win the fight!

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    1. They have shared tweets for us, retweeted the petition and individual groups are helping too, but they can't officially take on the campaign as an institute. What they have done has been wonderful though! Xx

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  15. Kerryn. Your blog is brilliant and you are a true inspiration. I really feel for the cast and everyone involved @ Home fires. My grandmother who is now aged 89 also enjoyed Home fires, she was an evacuee and also had a sister who was a land girl. You have my full support and I am happy to help as much as I can. #savehomefires! Emma d.s.e. (@EEstuart1) Well done also to all other campaigners...

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    1. Thank you so much xx that's the thing the show is loved by so many people and it reflects what lots of people went through. Xxx

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  16. What can we in the U.S. do? We don't understand ITV or, really, anything about your programming system there. We just get to watch whatever our Public Television puts on the air that it got from YOU!

    There's been a big fuss here about the cancellation of a popular (but lower-rated) show called "Nashville". I signed a petition, as did many others, and it looks like several "lesser" networks are looking to add it to their programming. But we don't know how to address a similar issue "across the pond". I know I signed a petition about "Home Fires" a couple weeks ago, but don't know what to do beyond that. Thoughts?

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    1. Hi, I'm in the US too and have been working on getting the news out. It's been a challenge because when the news was announced about the axing, it was the week in the States where all the networks announced their new schedules. I wrote to 100-ish newspapers, magazines and online TV sites, and got one retweet and no other mentions. It's very frustrating. The show won't be back on in the US until October - and by that time, the cast may be a bit dispersed.

      I think the two things most US fans can do is (a) let their PBS station know they'd like to see more, which gets passed along to the production house, and (b) contact your local newspaper or media magazine to see if they will cover the cancellation.

      PS: It looks like CMT picked up season 5 of Nashville.

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  17. I have to confess that I haven't watched "Home Fires" as I have been resident in China for many years. However, I would like to offer my support because I think the ITV should be shamed for making a vary cynical and callous decision without any concern for the fans of the series. I understand that a spokesperson for ITV said in response to annuncing the cancellation of a third series, “We are incredibly proud of what Home Fires has achieved, but the ITV commissioning team continues to refresh the channel’s drama portfolio, hence the decision not to commission a further new series.” That really does not tell you anything at all.
    Why can't they be honest and admit the real reason is that quality dramas cost a lot more to produce than the reality television that seems to dominate the networks these days. The networks are not interested in providing a quality drama portfolio at all. They are solely interested in making money.
    One good reason to keep the protest going is to spread the news and try to convince people to boycott ITV at the time that Home Fires was aired. If this results in a significant drop of viewers, that may make them reconsider their strategy. On the other hand...

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    1. Thank you for your support!! Exactly, ITV have treated us all badly and they have not been at all honest with us.
      Sadly a new person has come in and wanted to make their mark, so cancelled a show that they obviously didn't rate!
      We will keep making plenty of noise.

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  18. What about in America? Netflix or Amazon?

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    1. We'll be trying those too. We've been targeting them on twitter too!

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  19. Well done for trying, Nashville is another programme we love, So if it does continue great. Why is it, that programmes people really want get axed and banal reality shows stay.? I guess the answers is it costs less to film somebody decorating a home or follow around some unfortunate person, than it is to create good quality drama,

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    1. The fact that Nashville has been saved just shows us that campaigns can work, so we won't be giving up any time soon.
      Sadly reality tv is much cheaper to make :-(

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  20. I have just watched both seasons of Home Fires and absolutely LOVE the show. I cannot understand why ITV would want to cancel such an amazing drama. I kept thinking that surely my computer must be lagging the way the last episode ended. And that so many plots are just left hanging out there. Home Fires is BEGGING for closure! Whatever I can do, let me know!

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